Contact Us

| Sign Up

Study: 96% of restaurant entrees exceed USDA limits

By Chris Allen May 18, 2012 3:00 PM

(Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Those of you, like me, that plan your outings trying to eat better and healthier might want to think twice about having something that looks healthy. New studies are out and food may not be your friend. The Mom and Pop places and locally owned are not included in this study.

According to a new study, 96% of main entrees sold at top U.S. chain restaurants exceed daily limits for calories, sodium, fat and saturated fat.

Other highlights of the study:

•Appetizers can be calorie bombs. Appetizers averaged 813 calories, compared with main entrees, which averaged 674 calories per serving.

•Family restaurants fared worse than fast-food. Entrees at family-style restaurants on average have more calories, fat and sodium than fast-food restaurants. Entrees at family-style eateries posted 271 more calories, 435 more milligrams of sodium and 16 more grams of fat than fast-food restaurants.

•Kid “specialty” drinks often aren’t healthy. Many drinks offered on kids’ menus have more fat and saturated fat on average than regular drinks. While regular menu drinks had a median of 360 calories, the median number of calories in kid specialty drinks, such as shakes and floats, was 430.

Filed Under: food Category: Family, Food

Leave a Comment